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Anytime the Los Angeles Lakers play, no matter who the opponent is, they tend to focus on Kobe Bryant – and rightfully so.  Their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night at Staples Center would prove to be no different.  But that would work to Los Angeles’ advantage as it allowed their frontcourt to offensively take over. 

Bryant got his points but it was the combo of Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol who combined for 33 points and 24 rebounds as Los Angeles pulled away in the fourth quarter, fending off Denver 103-94.  With the win, the Lakers take a 3-2 lead in their best-of-7 Western Conference finals series.

This particular game was probably the most competitive thus far as in the first half, both teams combined for 13 ties, culminating into a 56-all tie.  The third quarter would be no different as both scored 20 in the period as the score was 76-all going into the final quarter.

The Los Angeles trio of Bryant, Odom and Gasol accounted for all but 7 points in the fourth; the Lakers opened the quarter with an 11-0 run for their first lead of the second half, capped by a trey by Shannon Brown.  The Nuggets would respond with a 13-6 run which gave them a 93-86 lead; Linas Kleiza and Carmelo Anthony accounted for all of the scoring during that spurt.  but the Lakers regrouped and gradually pulled away to secure the victory.

Los Angeles’ high scorer was Bryant with 22 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists and a steal but committed 7 turnovers while Odom added 19 with 14 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 blocks; Gasol nabbed a double-double as he scored 14 with 10 boards.

Denver was led by Anthony with 31 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals while Kenyon Martin and Chauncey Billups added 12 each – with Martin grabbing 5 rebounds, dishing out an assist along with a steal and a block while Billups grabbed 3 boards, dished out 5 assists along with 2 steals.  Los Angeles looks to close out the series on Friday night when they face Denver at Pepsi Center.